But that was not reflective of what hapened at the Olympics. The fives came from the email- not what was done in the SP.

*shrugs* if he doesn't have transitions worthy of higher, he doesn't have transitions worthy of higher... whether or not an email happened is moot

or some such theory. Isn't that how the whole pairs scandal was justified by the side that originally won out? B/S were superior anyway, so what difference did a little politiking and money exchange really make?

1. I have to admit, Buttercup, while I understand you wanting to balance the scales in terms politicking accusations and I know you've had some frustrations with the direction dance is headed, I'd argue that what Anissina does is exactly what you've opposed on the boards previously. I've always felt bad for Massimo Scali for how his comments were first mistranslated and then futher decontextualized.

2. Here's the thing, though - I am a fan of Domnina/Shabalin. Not the Domnina/Shabalin that won bronze at the Olympics, or gold in LA. This Domnina/Shabalin. Hell, I'm a fan of Bobrova/Soloviev too. But to clarify one thing: Delobel/Schoenfelder used a scarf/belt in a lift during their Worlds OD in 2008 - so the exemption had a precedent. As awful as that dance was, I think Linichuk knew what she was doing. She had to do something (A) different enough such that there wouldn't be any reasonable standard of comparison and (b) distract attention away from his injuries. That dance accomplished that perfectly.

3. It was always going to be difficult for the Shibs and W/P to defend their positions. W/P got 5th by 0.09 points. Shibs got 3rd by 0.25 points. Those narrow margins mean that a different panel (and if we're honest, we'll point out the panel at Worlds would've favoured the Americans over the Russians/French) could have reversed those results. But I think wally has it right - three groups of two battling with each other for the top six, with a couple outside teams honing in on the bottom third.